Two Federal High Court judges in Lagos, Justice Yellin Bogoro and Justice Alexander Owoeye, have sentenced 15 foreign nationals to one year in prison each for involvement in cyber-terrorism and internet fraud. The convicted individuals include 11 Filipinos, two Chinese nationals, one Malaysian, and one Indonesian. They were arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on various charges related to cybercrimes and possession of fraudulent documents. The offences were reportedly committed in Lagos in December 2024.
Among the convicts, Winnie De Jesus and the corporate entity Genting International Co. Ltd were charged with accessing computer systems with the intent to undermine Nigeria’s economic and social stability. De Jesus was also accused of recruiting Nigerian youths for identity theft schemes. Kayceelynn Remorin was similarly implicated in identity fraud and impersonation, allegedly posing as ‘Anastacia Lim’ to secure financial benefits on behalf of her employer.
The EFCC stated that their actions violated several sections of the Cybercrimes Act of 2015 (amended in 2024) and the Terrorism (Prevention, Prohibition) Act of 2022.All defendants pleaded guilty, prompting the prosecution to request convictions based on plea bargains. The judges accepted the pleas and sentenced each individual to one year imprisonment, with an option of a ₦1 million fine. In addition, the Nigeria Immigration Service was directed to repatriate the convicts after they complete their sentences. The court also ordered the forfeiture of all devices recovered from them to the Federal Government.
Sources : https://punchng.com/
